An Unforgettable Weekend (or How to Pull off a Surprise)

Before I get into the follow up of my CT scan, let me share the fabulous weekend we experienced.  It was supposed to be a quiet, lovely dinner invitation to celebrate our 40th anniversary, courtesy of our oldest daughter Rocio and Steve.  They arrived Thursday from Tampa and we were having a beautiful time:  movies, coffee, pizza, etc.  Then one by one the rest of the children (4) and their families (15 grandkids and 3 husbands/wives)  started to arrive all in different fashion and in the most surprising scenarios so much that we could not imagine our kids could be such good liars (we did not teach them that--or so I thought).  All in all that is 26 members of the immediate family right there.  Our Angela came from Brooklyn and the rest from Tampa, Lakeland and Gainesville.  And then they saved the biggest surprise for the end.  When taken to dinner my two sisters from Puerto Rico were waiting at the restaurant.  That made it all seem like a dream.  What a wonderful surprise!  A special present was a visit to a photographer for a family portrait which I had begged for ever since I don't know when.  Well as you can see here I finally have our beautiful picture.

Regarding my recent post radiation CT scan, the news is good in that we are still moving in the right direction.  The tumor has decreased a bit more.  There is a good possibility that the tumor might be necrotic (dead tissue essentially) but that will need verification via biopsy.  The plan is to continue the chemo for 2 more months and at that time move forward with the biopsy and a PET scan to see what the results are.  As long as it is chemo I am happy.  Do not mention radiation--that treatment was not that kind to me--the side effects, that is.  The bigger issue still is the location of the tumor and the way it is wrapped around some of those major blood vessels.  That needs to improve more.  Even if the biopsy comes back in our favor this can still be an issue when it comes time for surgery or the like.  Keep the prayers up.  I am always hopeful trusting in His grace and I am ready to accept whatever should happen. 

 Love you all, Mimi

"He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge."  Psalms 91:4